I am starting out in java and I have started to love programming. So much, that I feel like i would enjoy it as a profession. i'm thinking i will further my education with computer science at Pitt for college. I am a sophomore in highschool, and I'm taking a Pitt college credit, Intro to computer programming. It's basically a beginner java course that starts with Alice for a semester. Next year I am taking Visual Basic honors and ap java, both college credits for Pitt. I've only learned java and a small amount of lua in my free time. What should i do to help myself for the future? What's your story? What should I do?

Thanks

04-18-2013, 02:41 PM

annaharris

You should continue with java as there are lots of career opportunities.

04-18-2013, 04:45 PM

needmorecowbell

Alright thanks. Is there anything I should do to make myself more appealing to colleges? I'm 16 so a summer job is a possibility.

04-19-2013, 12:53 AM

oracleguy

Quote:

Originally Posted by needmorecowbell

Alright thanks. Is there anything I should do to make myself more appealing to colleges? I'm 16 so a summer job is a possibility.

Keep learning and making things. Remember that learning to program isn't about learning languages, it is about learning concepts. Languages are just syntax, the concepts are what is important.

A good way to learn is to pick a project, figure out something you would like to make and then go off and try and do it.

What have you done thus far?

04-19-2013, 02:17 AM

needmorecowbell

Quote:

Originally Posted by oracleguy

Keep learning and making things. Remember that learning to program isn't about learning languages, it is about learning concepts. Languages are just syntax, the concepts are what is important.

A good way to learn is to pick a project, figure out something you would like to make and then go off and try and do it.

What have you done thus far?

thanks for the advice. In my free time, I've used java to make video games, with lwjgl and another library. I've learned this from thenewboston on youtube if you've ever heard of it. In my class at school, we have made a few bigger projects for college in high school, like craps (the betting game), higher or lower (using a random number and you guess..similar to "hot or cold"), and now blackjack (i'm working ahead on it and its starting to confuse me because the computer has to decide whether to use an ace as a 1 or 11 and there's two programs similar to each other running at the same time, dealer and user). We've done dozens more projects, but they are mostly beginner stuff that we're doing to get a grasp of it. the most advanced thing i'm learning of right now is two dimensional arrays, and they seem interesting.

04-19-2013, 05:44 PM

oracleguy

Quote:

Originally Posted by needmorecowbell

thanks for the advice. In my free time, I've used java to make video games, with lwjgl and another library. I've learned this from thenewboston on youtube if you've ever heard of it. In my class at school, we have made a few bigger projects for college in high school, like craps (the betting game), higher or lower (using a random number and you guess..similar to "hot or cold"), and now blackjack (i'm working ahead on it and its starting to confuse me because the computer has to decide whether to use an ace as a 1 or 11 and there's two programs similar to each other running at the same time, dealer and user). We've done dozens more projects, but they are mostly beginner stuff that we're doing to get a grasp of it. the most advanced thing i'm learning of right now is two dimensional arrays, and they seem interesting.

Cool, card games are surprisingly good programming projects. They don't need a ton of fancy graphics, they can easily be done as console programs and the card game has rules that your program must implement. They are also a good chance to use different data structures (arrays, stacks, linked lists, etc.).

As for the ace thing, depends on the table rules but usually the deal has to hit on a soft 17. A soft hand in blackjack means the hand is made up as an ace.

04-19-2013, 07:49 PM

needmorecowbell

Quote:

Originally Posted by oracleguy

Cool, card games are surprisingly good programming projects. They don't need a ton of fancy graphics, they can easily be done as console programs and the card game has rules that your program must implement. They are also a good chance to use different data structures (arrays, stacks, linked lists, etc.).

As for the ace thing, depends on the table rules but usually the deal has to hit on a soft 17. A soft hand in blackjack means the hand is made up as an ace.

Alright thanks, I'll try that. And yeah I thought it'd be a simple as using an easy if statement, but it isn't. I decided to take a break from it and work on our last school project, keno. I'm almost done with it, super easy.

Is there something I should do to get prepared for college?

04-20-2013, 12:25 AM

oracleguy

Quote:

Originally Posted by needmorecowbell

Alright thanks, I'll try that. And yeah I thought it'd be a simple as using an easy if statement, but it isn't. I decided to take a break from it and work on our last school project, keno. I'm almost done with it, super easy.

Is there something I should do to get prepared for college?

Sounds like you are doing the right stuff. Just don't forget about your regular school work.

04-20-2013, 12:33 AM

needmorecowbell

Quote:

Originally Posted by oracleguy

Sounds like you are doing the right stuff. Just don't forget about your regular school work.

Alright, I have a 3.75gpa right now (I had a concussion last year). This year my gpa is 3.95, and by my junior year it should be 4.1. Senior year is up in the air for me. But will I be able to get into Pitt with those grades? I'm going to have a conversation with my counselor hopefully, but I doubt it will be much of a help.

Would an internship be a good idea? There's two small computer stores near me and one knows me because of when I was building a computer. Thanks for the help, I'm getting a lot of things cleared up.

04-25-2013, 12:30 PM

parvez1103

Now a days programming is the great sector in the world. If you learn any programming work you can build a great career. You can learn it your free time. So I think you should learn java or any more programming work.

04-25-2013, 10:37 PM

needmorecowbell

Quote:

Originally Posted by parvez1103

Now a days programming is the great sector in the world. If you learn any programming work you can build a great career. You can learn it your free time. So I think you should learn java or any more programming work.

Alright thanks :)

I have applied for a job at a computer place this week, and ill be meeting them this saturday to speak with them about how it will work out. It wont give me many hours, so i might work 2 jobs over the summer, one for this, another somewhere else.

04-30-2013, 02:21 PM

johnmacklen

if you try some practical jobs that will be best instead of theory knowledge on Java.

As you already love Java coding I think you will make the best programmer.

05-03-2013, 12:35 AM

needmorecowbell

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnmacklen

if you try some practical jobs that will be best instead of theory knowledge on Java.

As you already love Java coding I think you will make the best programmer.

Thanks, i appreciate it.

I will not be interning at the place i thought i would. they called me back just to make fun of how young i was. it was unprofessional and it embarrassed me. but im over it, and would like to have another swing at somewhere else. I just dont understand why someone would say no to free work for them, especially when its coming from a responsible person who is willing to put in the work needed.

06-06-2013, 09:28 AM

RobertWoges

Java is all time favorite for me because of its scope.

06-06-2013, 04:17 PM

tracknut

Once you feel you have your arms around Java and the fundamentals of programming, I'd suggest spending some time learning about databases. It's pretty critical in a whole lot of programming areas, and having database experience under your belt should be a huge head start.

Also keep in mind that volunteer work will go a long ways on your college application. If you can't find a paying job, you might see if there's a way you can provide some programming services to local non-profit orgs. I suspect web development would be appreciated and more tangible than asking them if they need any Java apps, but maybe you can find a match. Their eyes should light up when you offer to work for free :)

Good luck on your college entry, I agree with the rest, it sound like you're off to a great start.